Consultancy spend exceptions – February 2016

During **February 2016**, the following exceptions to the consultancy freeze above £20,000 have been considered by the Chief Executive in his capacity as Accounting Officer; and the requests for consultancy below £20,000 have been considered by the Director of Corporate Operations.

| Approval date | Ref: No. & Directorate | Summary of application | Decision | |---------------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------| | 01/02/2016 | 78C Comms | Board digital engagement, £10,000 | Approved | | 08/02/2016 | 80C RME | Issue over access to discounted fares, £6,000 | Approved | | 08/02/2016 | 81C RME | Provision of insurance consultancy, £9,000 | Approved | | 09/02/2016 | 75C(2) RME\* | Primary and secondary research to inform ORR response to Which? super-complaint on passenger compensation in the rail industry (extension to 75C), £100,000 | Approved | | 09/02/2016 | 79C Roads | Evaluation of regulatory outcomes frameworks, £40,000 | Approved | | 09/02/2016 | 82C Comms | Story development for the ORR, £5,000 | Approved | | 26/02/2016 | 68C(3) RME | Model audit of East Coast access analysis (extension to 68C(2)), £10,000 | Approved |

- This is a blanket approval to cover various contracts with distinct pieces of work.